This was a
remarkable game of Cricketat the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG),
with a brilliant batting performance from both sides. Player of the match, Glenn Maxwell,
hit the second-fastest century in a World Cup, as Australia beat Sri Lanka by
64 runs, to
advance to the quarter-finals. Kumar Sangakkara cracked his third century in
this tournament for Sri Lanka, which was achieved for the first time in a World Cup.

Maxwell
scored his maiden ODI hundred, off 51 balls, the fastest ODI century from an Australian batsman to
this point. The Victorian brought up his century off just one more ball then it
took Irish batsman Kevin O’Brien to destroy England in Bangalore, 2011. Maxwell’s
century uplifted
Australia’s moral and inspired them to their total of 376-9, the highest Cup total against Sri Lanka by any team.

A 134 - run
third wicket partnership between Steve Smith (68) and skipper Michael Clarke
(72) set up a pace for the innings, but they both got out in a span of five
balls. This brought out Maxwell and his partner Shane Watson, who went flying
to smash a 160–run fifth wicket partnership and contributed to the huge total
run rate of their side.

Tillakaratne
Dilshan then set the
tone for Sri Lanka to reply, as he and Sangakkara demonstrated a terrific
partnership and put on 130 for the second wicket. Sangakkara’s brilliant
batting led to his third century in this tournament, but his dismissal left Sri
Lanka on the back foot needing 176 from only 97 balls.

Dinesh
Chandimal was swinging at everything, hitting 52, after Sangakkara’s dismissal
to keep their hopes of victory alive, but his exit ended Sri Lanka’s unlikely
run chase, as they were eventually bowled out for 312 in 46.2 overs. Si Lanka are
now third in the group, with six points from their five matches, and will play Scotland
on their final group match in Hobart on the 11th March.

Australia will now face either Ireland or Pakistan
in the quarter-finals, which will be played in Adelaide on Friday 20th March.
Earlier this week, New Zealand and India qualified for the quarter- finals.

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